A Very Peruvian Practice: Travels With LA Senora

Rating:
Summary: A Very Peruvian Pleasure
Review: In this delightful book John Lane describes the time he spent as adviser to the Ladies Health Care Clinic in Lima. The Clinic has been built by the remarkable La Senora Pandora del Teodosia Zapallo-Chupado Palermo Bonomini for her husband, Dr. Hermogenese. 'Our clinic is mainly for the expecting woman' La Senora explains. John Lane finds himself plunged into an eccentric and fascinating world, at the heart of which is the enchanting Senora. A dedicated shopper, she explains "I only buy what I need. The trouble is, I need everything" There now! Exactly how I feel about shopping myself, if only my husband could understand. Under the charismatic influence of La Senora, John Lane finds himself dressing up as a ballet dancer to perform at a carnival, dressed as Father Christmas distributing presents from the clinic roof, taking part in a bullfight, and getting involved in other alarming escapades. Meanwhile the struggle to finance the clinic continues, "I don't know why there are so many banks here" La Senora remarks "for nobody has any money". John Lane does not ignore the problems of life in Peru, he writes of the poverty, the high crime level, and the massive government corruption. Nevertheless, so beguiling does he make Peru in general and the clinic in particular appear, that by the end of the book, when he finally leaves, you wonder how he could bear to leave this wonderful place and these extraordinary and fascinating people.An absolute delight.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Peruvian Pleasure
Review: In this delightful book John Lane describes the time he spent as adviser to the Ladies Health Care Clinic in Lima. The Clinic has been built by the remarkable La Senora Pandora del Teodosia Zapallo-Chupado Palermo Bonomini for her husband, Dr. Hermogenese. 'Our clinic is mainly for the expecting woman' La Senora explains. John Lane finds himself plunged into an eccentric and fascinating world, at the heart of which is the enchanting Senora. A dedicated shopper, she explains "I only buy what I need. The trouble is, I need everything" There now! Exactly how I feel about shopping myself, if only my husband could understand. Under the charismatic influence of La Senora, John Lane finds himself dressing up as a ballet dancer to perform at a carnival, dressed as Father Christmas distributing presents from the clinic roof, taking part in a bullfight, and getting involved in other alarming escapades. Meanwhile the struggle to finance the clinic continues, "I don't know why there are so many banks here" La Senora remarks "for nobody has any money". John Lane does not ignore the problems of life in Peru, he writes of the poverty, the high crime level, and the massive government corruption. Nevertheless, so beguiling does he make Peru in general and the clinic in particular appear, that by the end of the book, when he finally leaves, you wonder how he could bear to leave this wonderful place and these extraordinary and fascinating people.An absolute delight.